Tourism: Rhodes, Corfu, Kos are already recovering lost ground in arrivals

her Vicky Kurlibini

4.1 million air arrivals were already recorded in the five months, compared to 4.8 million in the corresponding period of 2019 (the year for which comparisons can be made in travel figures, as the previous two seasons were affected by pandemic travel restrictions), presenting a decrease of 15.1% or an absolute number of 720 thousand arrivals.

These are data from the Civil Aviation Service and Athens International Airport processed by INSETE Intelligence.

In particular, 178 thousand arrivals were recorded in January showing a decrease of 52.6%/-198 thousand, in February 223 thousand arrivals with a decrease of -37.9%/-136 thousand, while in March 338 thousand arrivals with a decrease of 31 .6%/-155 thousand arrivals compared to 2019.

In April, the first month of the tourist season, we had 1.1 million arrivals (decrease -10.2%/-125 thousand). while in May the decrease reached only 4.6% (/-106 thousand) and international air arrivals reached 2.2 million.

The popular tourist destinations are gradually closing the gap with 2019, a landmark year for Greek tourism with over 30 million arrivals from abroad and more than 18 billion. euro revenue.

In the five months at Heraklion airport a decrease of -43 thousand/-7.0% was recorded while international air arrivals reached 564 thousand while at Chania airport arrivals reached 225 showing a decrease of -4 thousand/-1.7% .

At the airport of Rhodes, 417 thousand international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +29 thousand/+7.5%, while at the airport of Kos, international air arrivals reached 181 thousand, recording a decrease of -6 thousand/-3.0%.

At Mykonos airport there was a marginal decrease of -0.4% while international air arrivals reached 62 thousand, while at Santorini airport 120 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +33 thousand/+37.3%.

In Corfu, international air arrivals amounted to 240 thousand. In Zakynthos and Kefalonia, 106 thousand and 45 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing a decrease of -11 thousand/-9.4% and -4 thousand/-7.8% respectively.

All geographical units recorded an increase in the January-May period, compared to the corresponding period of 2019, with the exception of the geographical unit of Crete, where there was a decrease (-46 thousand/-5.6%) while international air arrivals were to 789 thousand.

Positive first semester for AIA

The data published yesterday show that in June, the passenger traffic at Athens airport amounted to 2.43 million, reduced by 6.8%, compared to the traffic of June 2019.

Domestic passenger traffic was down just 0.6%, while international passenger traffic saw a single-digit decline of 9.6%, compared to 2019.

Accordingly, at a 6-month level, the airport’s passenger traffic reached almost 9 million and remained reduced by 20.3%, compared to 2019.

Road tourism is still not recovering

According to INSETE Intelligence, 1.5 million international road arrivals were recorded in the period January-May, compared to 2.7 million in the period January-May 2019, showing a decrease of 45%.

In April, 320 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing a decrease of -51.8%/-343 thousand road arrivals. In May, the decrease amounted to -16.3%/-111 thousand, while 569 thousand road arrivals were recorded.

What tourism entrepreneurs see

We are already heading towards the heart of this year’s season and the expectations of the entrepreneurs in the area are high, both in terms of arrivals, and especially in terms of revenue.

The initial moderate forecasts give way to optimistic messages, as the occupancy rates in popular destinations already reach 90% and the majority of organized units will be fully booked in August.

And for individual bookings, however, the demand is high and it seems that inflation – energy costs and price increases have not stopped the great appetite for vacations.

Accommodation prices have nothing to do with the previous two years of the pandemic and will rise further as rooms are sold out. For the organized packages on the other hand, the contracts have been closed since last year.

The prevailing feeling is that it is now possible to reach the levels of 2019 in tourism receipts.

And June went exceptionally well as reported by hoteliers, with high occupancy rates and a strong appetite from tourists to spend in local markets.

Greece is very much in demand

Meanwhile, research by World Travel Market showed that in the top ten European tourist destinations recording the biggest increases compared to 2019, six are in Greece, with Mykonos and Rhodes recording an increase of 29%, Chania 26%, Heraklion 23%, Santorini 20% and Thessaloniki-Halkidiki 19%, while Athens is also very high in urban tourism (3rd place).

In addition, in the US Greece shows the largest increase (+22%) of all foreign destinations for the Independence Day holiday.